After Vanderbilt led for the entire first quarter, Wake Forest scored a touchdown to go ahead, and the Commodores drove to the Wake 37 for a third-and-7 play. Jordan Rodgers took off on a quarterback draw to the right side and ended up at the Wake 23. Three plays later from a third-and-6 from the 8, he ran left for seven more, setting up Zac Stacys touchdown run from the 1 as the Commodores went up 13-7.

Until that drive, the Commodore offense had looked tentative after getting great field position before settling for field goals on their first two drives. Meanwhile, Wake had moved the ball very effectively on the Commodore defense. This drive stopped the momentum, and gave the 'Dores some offensive confidence.